Comfort and Joy Week 1

Advent comes from the Latin word 'adventus' meaning 'Coming.' Advent begins the church year starting four Sundays before Christmas. The season of Advent has been set aside as a time of preparation since the 6th century. Advent is also a time for preparing for Christ's second coming, even as we remember and celebrate his first coming at Christmas.

You might like to join in with the prayers we shall be saying in church each Sunday as we light the Advent Candles.

Week 1 Comfort and Joy from the beginning

Hope and Promise

Today is the First Sunday of Advent, we will light a candle to remember God’s promises to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the ancestors of our faith.

May your hearts be filled with hope as you hear the promises God made to bless all the peoples on earth through Abraham, the father of our faith. Thanks be to God.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12 NIV)

Blessed are you, sovereign Lord, the God of our ancestors: to you be praise and glory for ever. You called Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to live by the light of faith and to journey in the hope of your promises fulfilled. May we obey your call and be ready and watchful to receive Jesus into our lives as a lamp to our feet and a light in the darkness.

(light the first candle)

Lord Jesus we give thanks for Abraham who by faith obeyed your call and became the father of many nations. Give us faith to listen to your voice that our hearts may be filled with the hope of our Lord Jesus. Amen.